So I've had my vrod less than a year, and in that time it seems things are rattling and falling off the bike at an alarming rate. Exhaust shroud screw fell off twice. Then two bolts and grommets that hold on my upper belt guard somehow loosened themselves and both fell off. So I took the vrod to the dealer to have them install the bolts for the belt guard. Picked the bike up and rode to the coast and back only to find my left passenger footpeg is missing. So I called the dealership figuring that they must've taken it off when removing and reinstalling the belt guard, and they say no they don't have it, they didn't take it off, and it must've vibrated off. Holy crap! It's making me nervous to ride, what is going to unscrew itself and fall off next?

The best thing to do is detail the whole bike and check each fastener as you go. If you find any loose ones pull them out and reinstall with blue locktite. Don't count on the dealer to do anything correctly. Some dealers have good vrod mechanics, but more of them do not.

The next thing to go is your header bolts - right into your radiator fans, then all your hose clamps will loosen, then your brake light sending unit will melt, then you'll find out your suspension sucks, then you'll find out how badly tuned the engine is from the factory, then - well you get the picture. I wish I didn't like riding this bike as much as I do - but I do

So I've had my vrod less than a year, and in that time it seems things are rattling and falling off the bike at an alarming rate. Exhaust shroud screw fell off twice. Then two bolts and grommets that hold on my upper belt guard somehow loosened themselves and both fell off. So I took the vrod to the dealer to have them install the bolts for the belt guard. Picked the bike up and rode to the coast and back only to find my left passenger footpeg is missing. So I called the dealership figuring that they must've taken it off when removing and reinstalling the belt guard, and they say no they don't have it, they didn't take it off, and it must've vibrated off. Holy crap! It's making me nervous to ride, what is going to unscrew itself and fall off next?

A yearly or bi-yearly bolt check is a good habit to get into. You don't have to be a mechanic, just turn the wrench, check things out, do a once over now and then. Bikes, regardless of how smooth they run or not, still vibrate. The exhaust shields loosening was fairly common on the earlier models.